Bromley 1 Stockport County 3 ( Vanarama National League) Tuesday 15 February 2022

( All Words & Images by hedgegrower)

County consolidated their position as National League leaders with a convincing 3-1 win against promotion chasing Bromley at Hayes Lane tonight.

It was a terrifically mature performance!

As usual it was built on solidity at the back where County`s back line restricted the Ravens to scraps from long range mostly, and not a little inspiration at the other end of the park where Madden and Quigley scored 3 belters between them.


Quigley- simply excellent !

Despite County totally dominating the first half it was 0-0 at half time, and the one clear chance Bromley did get in the first 45 minutes was fluffed by George Alexander.


A Quigley Master Class in session !

Had that gone in….who knows, but the second half saw County turn the screws with ruthless efficiency first through a peach from Madden ….. then one of power and pure inspiration from Quigley , and another from Madden that was even better than his first.

Game over at 3-0 became a bit of a consolation period for the home specs late on as, drawing on previously un mined resources,they nicked one and in 5 minutes added time, gave their supporters something to cheer .

It was a decent late effort by Ravens but long after this tired old horse had bolted, and it could not disturb the rock like County defence a second time, neither could it disguise the fact that their lack of discipline was a contributary factor to their demise tonight. County`s brilliance probably triggered the negativity but that is no excuse and it was as counter- productive as it was disappointing.

…………………………………….


The 429 !

Back at 7.45 County went straight onto the attack with 429 natives of SK3 roaring them on magnificently from the open terrace to their right!

The raid was repulsed and the subsequent reply via Whitely and Arthurs by Ravens.


Bromley under pressure.

It was 0-0 with 3 minutes gone, and there was still a blank score line 3 minutes later as Arthurs cross cum shot flew high and wide with the strains of ` We Always Win Away` penetrating the damp evening air ( for …yes….it was raining…..rather namby pamby southern dampness…but still wet! ).

Bingham and Sowunmi were joined by Ravens captain Byron Webster to shore up the home defences with pink shirted County forwards swarming around keeper Mark Cousins` goal.


Johnno has nailed it !

Rydel was prominent down the left for County well backed by Johnson and Hippolyte who looks already to have settled in.


and Hypolyte`s in the mix now too !

County looked in determined mood, none more so than Quigley but his surging run on 11 minutes was blocked well by Sowunmi.


Rydel on the charge !


Quiggers and company !

Quigley and Rydel `s cooperation a minute later served to thoroughly destabilise the home back line who were fortunate to see Croasdale`s shot deflected for a corner from the duo`s work. Sowunmi blocked Palmers back post charge for this, and was there to head the second flag kick clear.

It was a decent watch was this, and whilst County looked to be in charge and have goals in them, Bromley`s neat play when in possession, albeit restricted to beyond the County box, looked to have potential.


Collar continues to shine brightly !

Quigley -powerful presence !

But, as I say…it was mainly County- Collar missing out with a header, on 16 minutes, from Quigley`s prompting.


Rydel wants this one....got it !

County continued to press, when it wasn`t Quiggers doing the deed ,it was Rydel – and the excellent Sowunmi doing wonders for Bromley at the back in reply!


Southam -Hales a threat as usual !

And then there was Southam-Hales, and he was gradually ratcheting up his game much to the consternation of the locals!

There was much for County to offer their travelling army and I noted the excellence of the drumming at this point- fantastically rhythmical stuff- just what was needed!

But Quigley`s next break saw him flagged offside!

County were stepping on the gas a bit and it was almost amusing to see Bush slam the ball inches over his own bar with pink shirts surging around him in the box. The corner saw a massive push on Quigley missed by the Referee, but I refuse to criticise Adrian Quelch as I thought he handled this game as well as any official I have seen for a while- and he had a lot to do for much of the second half!


Croasdale disputes possession !

The last 5 minutes of the half seemed to be petering out….Croasdale had watched as his latest effort cleared the bar, and I thought little of it as the ball was pinged to the back post by Arthurs for Bromley. There seemed an uncharacteristic unsteadiness in the County response. The ball bounced invitingly for a couple of men in white shirts, the nearest being George Alexander , but he fluffed his lines ….didn`t get a shot in , and it stayed 0-0.

County had thoroughly dominated that half, but not made best use of their superiority, that might just have cost them at the death there- it didn`t so there was much to look forward to if they could get the finishing right in the second half!

……………………………………….

The second half opened with Cousins making short work of an early Hippolyte effort.

Meanwhile Southam- Hales was welcomed back onto the park by a crude foul from Whitely.

County made nothing of the free kick which was a disappointment.

Coulson missed out for Bromley his shot deflected for a corner by Rydel which County defended with authority!


County go close !

The pressure was building now from County- who went close winning corners and free kicks one of the former seeing Palmer and Collar both thwarted in the act of forcing the ball home, by determined Ravens defending.

But there`s `determined ` and overly so…and Hippolyte took a hefty clattering from someone in white ( apologies did not get the number), and more disappointment came our way as the free kick faded away tamely.

County did well to repulse a Bromley raid following that last action – all down to 11 man defending , and it looked encouraging!


Collar again !

It also brought with it a certain anger, as…when Collar broke clear he was fouled by Arthurs - the free kick seeing a swing of Byron Websters boot stop the rot for Ravens.

Back came County via yet another free kick and Whitely cleared this one- we needed to make our opponents pay for their indiscipline….Hogan taking a fearful hammering next – Collar shooting wide from the subsequent kick.


Cousins saves from Quigley !

We were beyond the hour mark now , and it was still 0-0, and Quigley had just seen Cousins save his shot on the turn nicely.

This should have signalled a reply by Bromley but Hippolyte intervened winning the ball with cool efficiency slipping the ball to Southam -Hales. There was much still to do for the pink shirted number seven, but he did it…coming inside to ping the ball into the box where Madden scored with an excellent finish!


It`s Madden, It`s 1-0 !

That was a terrific goal, and another of similar quality followed in short order, as a throw following treatment to Collar on a wrist injury, saw Madden feed Quigley who just simply turned surged forward and leathered it past Cousins to make it 2-0 !


Superb strike by Quigley makes it 2-0 !

It was getting desperate now for Ravens with County having the scent of victory in their nostrils- as Bromley substitute Alabi joined the party with a foul on Hogan…..Bush doing well to block Quigley with Madden well placed to take advantage!


Quigley weighs up another strike !

It went on…Collar drilling one over the bar….Cousins saving from Hippolyte, and Quiggers flagged offside when put through by Collar with less than 10 minutes left of normal time.

Bromley`s best chance in the second half fell to Whitely but he failed to spoil Hinchliffe`s evening shooting straight into the County keeper`s arms.

Then….just when we looked like settling for 2-0….it was 3-0, set up by a neat flick on from Quigley and finished in superb style by Madden who hooked the ball home magnificently!

That was excellent…again…..and Collar added to the satisfaction with some neat defending as Bromley responded- Southam -Hales was fouled for his pains when Collar , turned neat defending into dangerous attacking play and picked him out. We looked to punish Ravens with the kick, but Cousins had other ideas and it stayed 3-0.

And then it didn`t as , urged on by the locals, Webster slammed one home from distance. It may have taken a deflection en-route but the home specs loved it …it was 3-1 now!

The goal put wind in Ravens sails – Whitely going close late on seeing a shot cleared off the line, but County`s defence did their job well in 5 minutes of added time, dealing with pressure with practised ease.

It was enough to see them home for an excellent win that does their championship push no harm at all and does them great credit!

Manchester City were playing in Europe, and United were at home in the Premier League, tonight and the 429 who made the trip here probably all could have watched one or both of these outfits in action without stirring from their living room sofa- but they didn`t!

We know that for all the alleged imperfections on view in National League football, all 429 were happy to travel 200+ miles to and another 200+ back for tonight`s game played twixt two teams of players with whom supporters still have some degree of connection with.

Why would we thank you for a free ticket to the Greedy League or a European tie when tonight`s fare was on offer- no matter the cost?

Well done County for making us believe again!

IO County!

Bromley line up:-

Cousins, Bingham, Bush, Sowunmi, Coulson , Arthurs(Alabi 65) Cheek, Wagstaff ( Trotter 60), Webster, Whitely ,Alexander ( Cawley 75).

Subs not used : Partington , Parsons.

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe, Hogan, Palmer, Southam- Hales, Collar, Croasdale, Johnson, Rydel ( Kitching 80), Hippolyte, Madden, Quigley ( Jennings 88).

Subs not used: Minihan, Newby, Crankshaw.

Attendance: 2736 ( 429)

hedgegrower

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